Treasure Hunt Takes Salvor To Bahamas

September 27, 1985|By Stephen Kindland of The Sentinel Staff

MERRITT ISLAND — Veteran ocean salvor Bob Jenkins and his 16-member crew will leave today on a salvage mission ''that might be bigger than a breadbox but smaller than a Mel Fisher,'' a project spokesman said Thursday.

Franklin Bright, media director for Historical Research and Recovery Inc. of Fern Park near Orlando, said Jenkins, the company president, will lead a 10-week expedition costing at least $250,000.

Jenkins said most of the money is being supplied by private investors whose names he would not divulge.

While making last-minute preparations Thursday, Jenkins said he and his crew, which includes six women, will search for treasures aboard two 17th century Spanish galleons ''somewhere along the Little Bahama Island bank.''

The 47-year-old diver and former Marine sergeant said he has been to the site twice and that some artifacts have been lifted from the two 800-ton vessels.

Jenkins also said the names of the ships are being kept secret to discourage other salvage companies from ''becoming too interested.''

''The sharks you run into before you get in the water are the ones you have to worry about,'' he said.

He said he is more optimistic than Bright about the find. He said there is a ''fair chance'' of bringing up riches ''in excess of 20 percent above'' what Key West salvor Mel Fisher pulled from the ocean bottom in May. Fisher recovered an estimated $200 million worth of gold, silver and gems from the Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de Atocha about 40 miles west of Key West. The ship sank in a 1622 hurricane, historians believe.

Fisher found an additional $400 million worth of silver bars and coins in July.

Fisher's accomplishment culminated a 16-year search.

Bright, who also is an equal opportunity officer at the Naval Training Center in Orlando, said plans for his company's expedition began 15 years ago. The project is being coordinated with Bahamian officials, Jenkins said. He said he and his backers have a contract with that country because the salvage site is in Bahamian waters.

The crew will be aboard a 73-foot boat, built in 1938, when they leave this morning. Jenkins said he will rendezvous with a Bahamian escort at West End, Grand Bahama Island, late tonight or early Saturday morning.